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Paper by Berna Datema - Scrapbookgraphics ~ template "31 Things" Ali Edwards. . .just wish I could type one of these things without a typo.   

Thanks. . .

Before I go further, I just wanted to say thank-you to eveyone concerned about Dagen - Trina, Sandy, Diane, Geri - we are all dog lovers.  This little dog is such an inspiration - strength, power and gumption. 

Picture courtesy of "Life as Lou" ~ the lovely Leah Killian.  I like this and she has instructions on her blog.

So much for turning the corner, getting life in order and keeping to a schedule.  Life with a special needs dog takes some getting use to.  The reality is, I'm tired, like new baby tired, the house is a mess, little of what I wanted to do has happened and I have a day of house work, laundry, a trip to the grocery and Ikea on my to do list that I'm counting on to get me on track.

On the Dagen front - good news, although I felt that our Vet was a bit irritated at Erin, Dev, Dagen and I crowded into an exam room.  I had so many questions; I felt as though I wasn't listening well, my mind jumping from one topic to the next.  Devin actually swatted Dr V with the exam glove she had blown up to show us the correct way to express the bladder.  There are days when I am just too old for kids ~ add sleep deprivation and extreme worry to the mix and we're talking short fuse.  

I love this woman; caring, compassionate and 100% behind my desire to care for a special needs dog ~ which by the way isn't that big of a deal.  With her help, I was successful at the bladder expression this AM.  Dr. V also thinks that Dagen is a good candidate for "spinal walking", a reflex action that is a close substitute for neurological walking directed by the brain.  Meanwhile, she is going to help me get Dagen measured for her "wheels", we no longer have to worry about limiting her activity and there is a good chance I can get some rest.  This morning she was wagging her tail as she greeted Bailey, went out for some exercise and is now resting in the crate.

Even though I've been feeling a little brain dead this past week, I have done some of the writing for Ali Edwards "31 Things".  This exercise was tailored for someone like me and a buck-a-day for the prompts is well worth it.  I'm toying with the idea of a digital journal, hoping to get back to my week in the life project and of course finishing my December Daily before next Christmas.  

2012 has been a challenge for almost everyone I know , even those I follow on the net.  The return of sunshine, the promise of summer has me thinking that I've turned are looking up. . .but wait, it was only 83 degrees here yesterday.  I may be the only one I know craving some heat :)

archives. . .

I'd love to share the details of this digital scrap, but I haven't a clue.  Just know this was a fun template to use.

When I think of creativity it is usually in the context of a great layout or strecthing my talent to new paper crafts, but this morning as I was thinking about my weekend, I realized that creativity is my style as I negotiate all aspects of life.

This weekend I had to come to grips with a most certain parapalegic dog ~ our little Dagen.  I spent hours on the internet learning the ins and outs of making this kind of committment ~ keeping her crated for pain management, to get her to the point where she can use a cart-doggie wheel chair.  Expressing her bladder, making sure she poops and that all the necessary steps are taken to insure good hygiene.  Over time there are bound to be skin problems, and "accidents" in the house.  I'm really worried about her time in the crate when I go to work, knowing that at this point she is incontinent.  All indications are that we will be able to get her on a schedule as she improves from the herniated disk.

We may have had the option of surgery; it's very expensive and the odds for success would not have been much better than the "conservative treatment", which is steroids, muscle relaxer and pain medication while crated for a month plus.  The economy being what it is, and Dagen's age, Ted and I scrambled for another solution.  I was so depressed thinking that the only alternative to surgery was euthanasia.

But there are solutions and I am so thankful for the internet, stories shared by pet owners faced with our situation and the realization that I can make this work until it is truly her time to say good-bye. With a weekend behind us, I am amazed at how creative I've become at tending to her needs and how well it is going. I'm also thinking that the creative solution - a doggie wheelchair is going to get me moving as well.  Everything I read suggests that her best exercise spot will be a short walk or romp through the park. We actually have a vet in Gilbert that specializes in disabled dogs. At home she will just have to sit and take it all in, or sleep, which in reality is most of her healthy day.  I'm, even thinking that at some point Ted will be able to carry her outside for a game of dig and sniff - her absolute favorite thing to do.  

Creativity sparks optimism; this is a revelation to me, something to be grateful for. 

Day three - Read

Kind of crazy around here.  I had Dagen to the vet this morning for severe back problems.  Our normal vet wasn't working today and I wasn't overly confident in what I heard.  She is sleeping soundly in her crate, which looks to be home for the next month or so.

My blog presence has been sketchy as I use my morning time to participate in Ali Edwards' "31Things".  I'm impressed at how much easier the writing schedule is to maintain, when I'm not worring about a physically scrapped page.  

The templates given out are 12X12.  I cropped off one side and my finished product for every day should be some variation of what I've posted.  Days 1 and 2, I wrote using the Pages program for the Mac and posted them as messages.  

We are faced with the usual weekend chores. . .I'm just itching to print and scrap something. Let's hope. . . .